<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Entergy
Louisiana's financial statements for the year ended December 31, 1996 and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000060527
<NAME> ENTERGY LOUISIANA INC.
<SUBSIDIARY>
   <NUMBER> 012
   <NAME> ENTERGY LOUISIANA, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    3,476,719
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     87,236
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         324,302
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       391,021
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,279,278
<COMMON>                                     1,088,900
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       (2,659)
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             63,764
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,250,505
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           92,500
<PREFERRED>                                    100,500
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,373,233
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              31,066
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   34,275
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     10,156
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                28,000
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,459,543
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                4,279,278
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,828,867
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           118,560
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,392,421
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,392,421
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        436,446
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               3,795 
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 440,241
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       130,919
<NET-INCOME>                                   190,762 
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     19,947
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  170,815 
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       179,200
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         351,671
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0